IPL 2019: One player from each team who might be their X-factor

Kohli and AB de Villiers
Kohli and AB de Villiers

The Indian Premier League has become an integral part of the international cricket calendar. It is arguably the most watched sporting event in India and one of the biggest in cricket.

The 12th edition of the Indian Premier League promises a lot of excitement as there are a lot of new faces in the tournament with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Nicolas Pooran, Shivam Dube, Varun Chakravarthy, and Oshane Thomas.

Players who can change the course of a game quickly, either with the bat or ball, are the dangerous ones in T20 cricket and provides the X-factor. CSK thrived on Dhoni's ability to finish games and KKR flourished on Narine's mystery bowling. Mumbai Indians too had players like Pollard, who is a genuine match-winner in T20s.

Here in this article, we take a look at the One player from each team who might be their X-Factor in IPL 2019.


#8 Rajasthan Royals - Jos Buttler

Jos Buttler was sensational for RR last season
Jos Buttler was sensational for RR last season

Though RR has players like Jofra Archer, Ben Stokes, and Krishnappa Gowtham, Jos Buttler is definitely the player who brings the X-factor to the team. Promoted to open the batting, Jos Buttler blasted five consecutive fifties in IPL last season and single-handedly took them to the playoffs. He is a kind of player who can destroy any bowling attack in the world and can play 360-degree cricket.

#7 Kings XI Punjab - Varun Chakravarthy

Varun Chakravarthy
Varun Chakravarthy

It does not surprise many when franchises went crazy for the Tamil Nadu spinner in the 2019 IPL auction. Mystery spinners get a lot of attention in T20 and to their credit, some have performed well in T20 cricket. Varun Chakravarthy came into the limelight when he starred for Siechem Madurai Panthers in TNPL 2018. He picked up nine wickets in the tournament at an astonishing economy rate of 4.67. He possesses quite a variations in his armory and a difficult bowler to read.

#6 Sunrisers Hyderabad - Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan
Rashid Khan

Rashid Khan is arguably the best leg-spinner in limited-overs cricket at the moment. He picked up 96 T20 wickets in 2018 at a stunning economy rate of 6.35. In IPL 2018, Rashid Khan picked up 21 wickets and played a crucial role in Sunrisers' run to the final. The 20-year-old has a deceptive googly and is consistent with his line and length. He is also a handy batsman in the lower order, who can whack a six or two late in the innings.

#5 Delhi Capitals - Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane
Sandeep Lamichhane

Sandeep Lamichhane is a star in T20 cricket at the age of 18. The youngster from Nepal played three games for Delhi in IPL 2018 and was brilliant with the ball. He was brilliant for Melbourne Stars in the ongoing Big Bash League and picked up eight wickets in just four games. He also picked up four wickets from six games in BPL 2018/19 at an economy rate of 5.66. Lamichhane could play a much bigger role for Delhi this season.

#4 Kolkata Knight Riders - Andre Russell

Andre Russell
Andre Russell

Kolkata Knight Riders have quite a few players who bring the X-factor but Andre Rusell stands out among them. In the game against Trinbago Knight Riders during CPL 2018, Russell took a hat-trick with the ball and then scored a 40-ball hundred to win the game for Jamaica Tallawahs. He is one of those very few cricketers in the world who can be equally devastating with both the bat and ball.

#3 Royal Challengers Bangalore - AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers
AB de Villiers

AB de Villiers is one of the most loved cricketers in the world. Nicknamed 'Mr.360', no area on the ground is safe when this man is at the crease with the bat in his hand. He holds the record for the fastest 50, 100, and 150 in One Day Internationals. He has played some scintillating knocks in IPL and destroyed some of the greatest bowlers. de Villiers can change the course of the game in minutes and definitely RCB's X-factor in IPL 2019.

#2 Mumbai Indians - Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah
Jasprit Bumrah

The World No.1 ODI bowler in a vital cog in Mumbai Indians' squad for IPL 2019. Jasprit Bumrah is one of the best bowlers in the world right now and has proved his abilities across formats. He picked up 17 wickets in IPL 2018 at an economy rate of 6.88. With his abilities to pick wickets with the new ball and also in the death overs, Bumrah certainly provides the X-factor to Rohit Sharma.

#1 Chennai Super Kings - Kedar Jadhav

Kedar Jadhav
Kedar Jadhav

Chennai Super Kings paid a lot of money for Kedar Jadhav during the 2018 IPL auction but he played just one game for CSK last season. He was injured in the first game and ruled out of the tournament. Jadhav is one of those players who does not need many deliveries to influence the game. Jadhav is back in the Indian team and has played a couple of good knocks in the ODI series against Australia and New Zealand.

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